Sign hook



June 9, 1931. .J. NELSON I 1,809,562

S IGN HOOK Original Filed Oct. 25, 1927 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITEDSTATE JOHN NELSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS SIGN HOOK Originalapplication filed October 25, 1927, Serial No. 228,573. Divided and thisapplication filed December This application is a division of one filedby me October 25th, 1927, the serial number of which is 228,573.

This invention relates to hooks designed to be driven into the mortar orcement between the bricks or stones of a wall for holding board signsthereto. Heretofore sign hooks have been unsatisfactory for variousreasons, particularly because they were not shaped so that they could becleanly driven between the bricks of a wall and remain firmly embeddedthere, and the ear was not shaped so as to securely hold the sign inplace. To give satisfaction the driving portion of the hook 115 must beexactly and accurately shaped so that it can be driven into the mortarbetween stones and bricks without dislodging so much mortar that thehook is embedded only loosely. To devise such a hook the greatestattention has been given to every detail from the tip of the drivingpoint to the head and hook portion.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side View of a sign hook embodying my improvement, whichis de signed for driving into lines of cleavage which run parallel withan adjacent edge of the sign. Figure 2 is a perspective view, and Figure3 is a top view of the same hook.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sign hook designed for driving intolines of cleavage which run at right angles to the adjacent edge of thesign. Figure 5 is a side view, and Figure 6 is a top view of the samehook. Figure 7 is a front view showing a portion of a sign held in placeagainst a brick wall by my books driven into the mortar between thebricks.

As shown in the drawings, my sign hook consists of an end or penetratingportion 1, a body portion 2, a head 3 and a hook or ear portion 4. Thebody portion 2 is preferably rectangular in shape and wider than it isthick, and at one end it tapers on all four sides to form thepenetrating portion 1. At

, the other end of the body portion 2 the head 3 is formed, which isslightly higher than the ear portion 4. In both forms of my sign hookthe ear 4 is preferably made slightly to firmly hold it in place.

Serial no. 324,792.

wider at its outside end than the head 3 and the top side of said ear 4tapers or slants downwardly from the head 3 to. the outside end.v Itwill readily be understood that'both hooks are formed on the sameprinciple Of construction. The hook shown in Figures '1 and 2 isdesigned to be driven into the lengths of mortar which run parallel withthe adj acent edge of the sign, while the hook shown in Figures 4 and 5is designed to be driven into the lengths of mortar which run at rightangles to the adjacent edge of the sign. The ear '4 overlays theadjacent edge of the sign, holding it securely in place, and it is thepractice to use the hooks on all sides of the sign, using as many as thesize and weight of the sign require.

I am well aware that spikes, nails and hooks have been in existence formany years. None of these, however, were satisfactory to hold signs inplace against brick or stone walls, etc. My sign hook has beenespecially devised for this purpose. The penetrating end is tapered fromthe body 2 on all four sides so that it is both narrower and thinnerthan the body, thereby making it possible to penetrate the mortarwithout cutting out large chunks and loosening the bricks. The bodyportion being thicker than the tapered end thereby fits snugly in themortar. The head being higher than the ear, causes the driving blow toreact straight through the center of the body or spike, insuring thatthe spike portion penetrates the mortar in a straight line and makes aclean cut when squarely struck with a hammer. The whole under surface ofthe hook portion or ear is. level so that the full length of said undersurface is in contact with the edge of the sign 0n the other hand theupper surface of the ear tapers downwardly which protects the car itselffrom the driving blows. The ear or hook grows wider toward the outsideend thereby furnishing more surface to abut the edge of the sign. It isthese features in my sign hook which have established its superiorityover those previously used.

I claim as my invention: 1. A sign hook formed from a single piece ofmaterial comprising a body, a penetrating portion, a head and an ear,said body being substantially wider than it is thick and tapering on allsides at one end to form said penetrating portion, the thickness of saidpenetrating portion at its lower end being less than one-third thethickness of said body, the other end of said body forming said head,said head being of substantially the same width and thickness as saidbody and being flat on its outer surface and adapted to receive thedriving blow, the top surface of said ear slanting downwardly andoutwardly from said head toward the outside end and its under surfacebeing flat.

2. A sign hook formed from a plain strip of material comprising a body,a penetrating portion having a blunt end, a flat head and an ear, saidbody being substantially wider than it is thick and tapering on allsides at one end to form said penetrating portion, the other end of saidbody forming said head, said ear being a continuation of said head andhaving its top surface tapered downwardly from the top of said headtoward the outside end.

JOHN NELSON.

